Council tables pet ordinance

Wednesday

Mar 20, 2013 at 12:44 PMMar 20, 2013 at 12:48 PM

Aldermen request more time before making decision on fee removal, breeding

Leigh Kreimeier, lkreimeier@stuttgartdailyleader.com

The Stuttgart City Council tabled the passage of ordinance 1886 during Tuesday night's Stuttgart City Council meeting. Although it was unclear what the council wanted as far as information, the item will be brought up during the next council meeting, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at Stuttgart City Hall.

The changes to the dog ordinances will, if passed, require all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies annually. The new additions will also delete the $7.50 late fee and $12 rabies tag fee.

The breeding section seemed to be the most discussed. If approved it will change to read, “No dangerous dog breeds or any dog deemed vicious or dangerous shall be used for breeding purposes and must be spayed or neutered and with certification of such procedure be provided to the Stuttgart Animal Control Officer.”

“What brought this up?” Stuttgart Alderman Joe Alexander asked.

Stuttgart Animal Control Officer Steven Cupples was on hand at the meeting and said through his experience with other cities this will help the vicious dog population. Being neutered, they show less aggression. This will help do away with breeding a population of dog that is deemed vicious, not do away with the animal completely.

“We can't do away with all dangerous dogs, because not all dogs (classified) dangerous are dangerous,” Cupples said. “It has a lot to do with training.”

The way the law stands on the books at this time, which will continue, is that a dog that is deemed vicious will have to stay in a 100 square foot pen with a secured top and bottom and a pad lock. If out for a walk it has to be muzzled and on a leash with a responsible adult, 18 or over, who is physically able to control the dog.

The council was voting to not pass the ordinance before a motion to table was made. The motion to table was approved and Stuttgart Mayor Marianne Maynard asked what further information the council needed to help them make a decision.

“I need to know what direction to go,” Maynard explained, telling the council she would ask for more information or possibly a presentation on the issue, if needed.

The council made no move to ask for any information. The discussion got off on different tracks of not allowing any dangerous breeds in the city limits to the current state of the animal shelter. After looping back to the item at hand Alexander said, “I just think the public needs to be aware of what is going on.”

The motion to table was approved unanimously and the item will be on the agenda a second time in April.

For more information contact Stuttgart City Hall at (870) 673-3535 or Cupples at (870) 659-0498.

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